Internet Communications: Class Website

I chose to create a class website for this assignment, and it was... really fun once I figured out how to do it. I used a Google Site template, and it was simple to edit (again, once I figured out how). I chose to pretend this was for a 12th grade US Government class. In the site are the beginning ideas of lesson plans and projects. Check it out!
https://sites.google.com/site/ipthistoryclasssite

Internet Safety

Internet Safety is not a new concept for me, but I appreciated the reminder. My mom was opposed to myspace and Facebook, but we slowly coaxed her into letting us get Facebooks as we got older. When we started using the internet more, she told us some safety tips: never give out your birthday, social security number, address, or other personal information with strangers. Or even people you think are your friends. She also told us not to go into chat rooms or meet people online. My mom is always right, and I'm proud to say I listened to her on internet safety. This is also what I relearned when reading these articles and watching these videos about internet safety. It's a scary world we live in, and the internet can be used for good and bad.

I really liked the articles from lds.org about online missionary work. The testimonial about how Derick Fitch found the Gospel and was able to read the Book of Mormon online made me realize how amazing the internet really is when we harness it for the ultimate good of spreading the good news of Christ. The internet can also be an easy access to the addicting sin of pornography, which means we constantly have to be on our guard when surfing the internet and choosing entertainment. My family has made an effort to protect us against this too. There's a security/blocking system on the computer, our computers are in an open space where lots of people always are, and we are only supposed to be on the internet for 30 minutes at a time (unless for homework). These are a few habits that can help prevent accidentally coming across pornography and keep us not addicted to the computer and the internet.

I decided to share my re-enforced knowledge of internet safety with my 15-year old sister. I talked to her over Facebook chat about how important it is to keep personal identity out of online stuff unless it is a secure sight. Because our family already makes a habit of these precautions, I think she just thought it was another lecture from an older person. But I think she got the message.

One last thing: computer and on-line video games are a waste of time. Play a board or card game, or go outside, or read a book, or make a new friend who you can actually see!

the end!

Copyright?

I really like all things Harry Potter, so that's what my two videos are. The first is a fan-made Harry Potter #7 Trailer (it's fan-made because nothing has been officially released yet). Ok, so I think I understand this copyright v. fair use thing, but I have one question: is any fan-made or unofficial trailer a copyright infringement? These trailers usually last 1-4 minutes long and use music from the previous HP movies (usually #1) or another source that they don't cite. Likewise, the images are a montage of the previous movies and some leaked footage. Is this copyright infringement if it is less than 3 minutes of visual? The audio usually lasts that long, so does that make it infringement? In this specific case, they do cite the music they use, but they use more than 30 seconds of it. Also, because they use images from all 6 movies, is it less than 10% and therefore not an infringement? In my opinion, they are not obeying copyright laws because it is an unofficial trailer that they post on the internet.

The second YouTube video I chose to use was from Potter Puppet Pals: The Mysterious Ticking Noise (TMTN). This obeys copyright laws because its owner and creator posted it. But, although the storylines are original, are the characters under copyright with Warner Brothers? I think this is good copyright because of the original storyline and the creator posted it.

Blogs, Blogs, Blogs!

One blog I chose to subscribe to was Suite 101, a blog for educators do discuss important issues teachers face. This term I am also taking CPSE 402, Educating Students with Disabilities in Secondary Ed, so I recognized some of the terms, such as "inclusion," and "IEP," and I think this site will help me better understand these issues when I encounter them as a teacher.





Another blog I chose to follow was the NHEC blog, which I think will be very useful to get creative ideas for teaching history.







This site looks like an awesome resource that I might use as a teacher for ideas about how to incorporate technology in my classroom.






This is a Middle School teacher's blog that perfectly describes this assignment: He combines education, technology, and history (my emphasis).